STOICHIOMETRY

Carlo Delos Santos

Department of Physical Science
Polytechnic University of the Philippines

ABSTRACT
Understanding stoichiometry helps the experimenters to evaluate the quantitative matters involved in a chemical
reaction. In the conducted experiment, two reagents namely iron and copper sulfate were used to investigate how
precipitation reaction occur. A .5 gram of Iron (Fe) and ~15-20ml of 1M copper sulfate (CuSO4) were used the reaction.
After employing stoichiometric concepts, it was then found out that iron was the limiting reactant while copper sulfate was
the excess reagent. The equation Fe(s) + CuSO4(aq) --> FeSO4(aq) + Cu(s) was found to be the accurate formula to describe the
reaction in the experiment after applying stoichiometric concepts. The actual mass of Fe used was 0.5001g while for the
volume CuSO4, 20ml. For the products, actual mass recorded for Cu was 0.5023g while for the volume of FeSO4, 19.97 ml.

INTRODUCTION
Stoichiometry is a prerequisite in understanding quantitative analysis of chemical reaction. Briefly defined by
Chang and Goldby (2014), stoichiometry is the quantitative study of relationship of reactants and products in chemical
reaction. The experiment done specifically showed a type of reaction in which stoichiometric concepts can be applied.
Particularly, the experiment used two reagents namely iron and copper sulfate to investigate how precipitation reaction
occur. By the stoichiometric concepts, experimenters were able to attest which is limiting and the excess reactant.

This experiment provided an application of stoichiometry concepts as well as example of precipitation reaction.
Silberbeg and Amateis (2018) described precipitation reaction as reaction in which two soluble ionic compounds form an
insoluble product, a precipitate. In the reaction of 0.5 grams of iron and ~15-20 ml of cppper sulfate, experimenters were
able to anticipate Fe as the limiting reagent as well as the CuSO4 as excess reagent. Moreover, the mass of the product can
also be tracked because of stoichiometry.

In general, stoichiometry has been employed in many real life applications. Ebbing and Gammon (2009) cited that
goal of reaction is to produce the maximum quantity of a useful compound. As perceived in the study, experimenters were
able to apply stochiometric principles particularly in finding the limiting and excess reactants.

METHODOLOGY
Before the experiment, all materials such as beaker, wire gauze, hot plate, erlenmeyer flask, and stirring rod as well
as the reagents Fe and CuSO4 were completely prepared to facilitate the activity. The mass of empty beaker was measured
first using the analytical balance. Then, 0.5 grams of Fe powder was obtained by subtracting the mass of the system to the
mass of empty beaker. Meanwhile, 20 ml of CuSO4 were obtained. The Fe and CuSO4 were combined right after the CuSO4
were preheat to almost boiling. Stirring using stirring rod was applied to speed up the rate of reaction. Then the Cu metal
were formed and the metal was allowed to settle. To separate the precipitate from the aqeous, decantation was applied by
experimenters.

Prior to the experiment, the student-experimenters considered two possible equations that may accurately describe
the reaction.

(1) Fe(s) + CuSO4(aq) --> FeSO4(aq) + Cu(s)

(2) 2Fe(s) + 3CuSO4(aq) --> Fe2(SO4)3(aq) + 3Cu(s)

Using both equations, it was found out the Fe was the limiting reactant while CuSO4 was the excess reactant.
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Before the reaction After the reaction
Mass of Mass of Mass of the Volume Mass of Mass Mass of of the Volume
Beaker Fe system of CuSO4 Beaker of Cu system FeSO⁴
(g) (g) (Beaker + Fe) (ml) (g) powder (Beaker + Cu
(g) (g) Powder) (mL)
(g)
53.56 0.5001 54.0601 20 53.52 0.5023 54.03 19.97

For the results and discussion, the table shows the data before and after the reaction. The mass of the empty
beaker was 53.56 g and the mass of iron was .5001 g which sum up to 54.0601 g of the system. The group decided to obtain
20 ml of copper sulfate. When it comes to intrinsic properties the black Fe powder was combined by a bluish CuSO4. After
the reaction, reddish brown copper and light green FeSO4 were observed.
It was also determined that Fe2+ cation was the cation form of Fe that combined with SO4-3
The computed mole for Cu based on Fe was 8.995×10-3 and the otherwise 7.9×10-3 mole. The ratio between the two were
close to 1 which could only be exhibited in equation 1.

References
Silberberg, M.,and Amateis (2018). CHEMISTRY:The Molecular Nature of Matter and Change. Published by McGraw-
Hill Education, 2 Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10121. Copyright © 2018

Chang, R., Goldsby, K. (2014). General Chemistry The Essential Concepts 7th Edition. McGraw-Hill Companies,Inc., 121
Avenue of Americas, New York,NY 10200.

Ebbing, D., Gammon, S. (2009).General Chemistry 9th Editionm. Houghton Mifflin Company, 222 Berkeley Street, Boston.